The 35-year-old participated in the long-running game show’s Tournament of Champions, a 10-day contest where 15 past "Jeopardy!" champs vie for the $250,000 grand prize.

Holzhauer easily beat his fellow opponents, Pittsburgh physician Lindsey Shultz and Georgia software development manager Alan Dunn, after going into the Final Jeopardy round with $30,309, almost three times more than Shultz’s $10,800. Dunn trailed with $6,000.

Known for waging big, Holzhauer played it safe since he could get the answer wrong and still win. He risked a mere $326.

In the end, both he and Schultz responded correctly with, "Who is Marion Anderson?" to the answer, “In 1939, turned down by two local theaters, Howard University was able to get an outdoor venue for this singer’s yearly concert.”

Holzhauer wound up with $30,635 and advanced to next week’s semi-finals.

Shultz ended up in second with $14,000, while Dunn walked away with $1 on the podium.